Sport

United boss Appleton's dilemma on Hoskins

First published
in Sport
by David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

Will Hoskins is set to make his Oxford United home debut against Dagenham & Redbridge tomorrow, but head coach Michael Appleton has not yet decided whether the striker will start.

The 28-year-old made an instant impact in his first appearance for the club on Tuesday night, coming off the bench to set up Danny Hylton’s equaliser against West Brom.

He was also influential in extra time, before tucking away a penalty in the Capital One Cup shoot-out, which the U’s eventually lost.

It was Hoskins’s first game for 18 months due to a serious knee injury and although there was no reaction to playing 40 minutes at the Hawthorns, Appleton knows he is not ready to play a whole game.

He said: “It was slightly more than we anticipated, although we can’t argue with the result of what happened.

“He’s come through it fine.

“The one thing for sure is I don’t think he can finish a game, so I have to make that decision whether it’s too much of a risk to start him, or it’s an opportunity for him to start and then come off.

“I’m sure he will be desperate to start the game, but I have to think long-term and make the right decision.”

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